House Ethics puts Michael Grimm probe on hold

The Justice Department has asked the House Ethics Committee to hold off on its probe of Rep. Michael Grimm while federal investigators conduct a criminal investigation of the New York Republican over alleged campaign-finance violations, the panel said in a statement Monday.

DOJ is looking into Grimm’s relationship with Ofer Biton, an Israeli citizen with close ties to Rabbi Yoshiyahu Yosef Pinto, who has a large following in New York. Grimm — with Biton’s help — raised more than $500,000 from Pinto’s followers, including alleged improper cash donations or contributions from non-U.S. citizens. Biton reportedly sought help from Grimm in obtaining a green card.

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Biton was charged in August by the Justice Department with immigration fraud and other alleged violations. Biton has denied wrongdoing and is free on a $1.5 million bond. Pinto is being investigated by Israeli authorities in a bribery case.

The Office of Congressional Ethics referred the Grimm case to the Ethics Committee in June but recommended dismissal, saying it was unsure if any alleged violations occurred after Grimm became a member of Congress in 2010 and thus had no jurisdiction to look into the case.

But the Ethics Committee — which has final say in imposing sanctions against lawmakers — asserts that it is not bound by the same restrictions as OCE.

“OCE’s referral of this matter recommended dismissal because it could not establish with a sufficient certainty that a violation [occurred] after Representative Grimm became a Member of Congress,” said Reps. Jo Bonner (R-Ala.) and Linda Sanchez (D-Calif.), the chairman and ranking member of the Ethics Committee, said in a statement Monday.

“However, in prior Congresses, the Committee has held that it may investigate conduct that violated laws, regulations, or standards of conduct, which occurred during an initial campaign for the House of Representatives. Based on this precedent, notwithstanding OCE’s view, on November 15, 2012, the Committee unanimously voted to continue to assert jurisdiction over matters relating to a successful campaign for election to the House of Representatives.”

Bonner and Sanchez would conduct the Grimm probe on their own authority, with no special investigative subcommittee to handle the case or a deadline to take action.

But Bonner and Sanchez said the Justice Department has asked them to hold on their probe while it continues the criminal investigation of Grimm, a former FBI agent. The Ethics Committee normally defers to federal, state, or local law enforcement agencies conducting criminal probes into a lawmaker’s actions.

“The Department of Justice has asked the Committee to defer consideration of this matter and the Committee, following precedent, unanimously voted to defer consideration of this matter at this time,” Bonner and Sanchez said.

Grimm’s attorney, William McGinley of Patton Boggs, said Grimm has done nothing wrong.

“Today’s announcement by the House Ethics Committee comes as no surprise. We appreciate the Committee’s decision to defer consideration of this matter while we continue to work with the Department of Justice to favorably resolve the false allegations against Congressman Grimm,” McGinley said in a statement. “Any fair and objective review of all of the facts in this matter will conclude that Congressman Grimm engaged in no wrongdoing. We are confident that the Department of Justice and the Ethics Committee will reach that result.”

If he's guilty fine, when is Obama going to be indicted for all the funny money he got, two sets of rules, at least most REAL Americans know Obama is a crook and thief.

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It takes a crook and thief to recognize one of a kind - even REAL Americans. Just saying.....Maybe the Republicans should have been watching him more closely, however, all politicians are also subject to lawful behaviour.

Can ww also expect DOJ to investigate all the Foreign Comntribuitors to Obama PACs... The Black Panthers Voters Intimidation affront of 2008, and all the Illegal Voters that have probably "SWANG" the election in some Liberal Precints to "FUDGE" the overal Numbers??/